ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - The town of Novska, 95 kilometres southeast of Zagreb, has positioned itself as a place open to development of the gaming industry, and on Wednesday Prime Minister Andrej Plenković opened a dormitory for a local secondary school that has introduced a course in game development.
Plenković also visited the local business incubator with more than 60 companies specialising in game development.
The school's principal, Nikolina Fijačko Filipović, said that children from all over the country had enrolled in the new course - game technician - so their accommodation had become a priority.
She thanked everyone involved for the necessary permits, financial support and everything else that had resulted in the opening of the dormitory, located in a building formerly owned by the INA oil company.
Novska Mayor Marin Piletić said that the dormitory would provide accommodation for 21 students.
Sisak-Moslavina County head Ivan Celjak said that by developing the gaming industry Novska had positioned itself as a gaming industry centre, with 61 firms operating in the local enterprise incubator.
"The opening of new companies and the enrolment of students to attend the new course means the arrival of young people and families in Novska," the county head said, noting that students would not have to pay for their accommodation in the dorm.
PM Plenković said the dormitory project took a year and a half to implement.
He noted that the project ran in parallel with the verification of the course for game technicians so that Novska could become a leader in the gaming industry and a new niche of the fourth industrial revolution and digital age in Sisak-Moslavina County.
Plenković said that more than 50% of game development companies in Croatia were registered in Novska, a town that has attracted young people from all over the country, thanks to which the local real estate market has picked up as well.
PM underlines gov't care for Sisak-Moslavina County
Plenković said the government pays special attention to care for Sisak-Moslavina County, notably its post-earthquake reconstruction as well as its development, with incentives for local entrepreneurs having been increased to the maximum.
He expressed belief that the new concept of development, the large number of new small businesses and higher employment in the past five years would attract more young people who would stay in Novska.
The local gaming industry project was launched by SIMORA, the development agency of Sisak-Moslavina County, which, the PM noted, had recognised the opportunity for the development of the gaming industry.
He recalled that in 2017 the government included the gaming industry in the legislative framework while the Finance Ministry financially supported the establishment of the Novska incubator. Every six months the Croatian Employment Service sends 40 young people to Novska to undergo additional training, he said.
There are also plans for a campus in Novska, to be financed from the Just Transition Fund, it was said.
